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Not Ready to Retire? Get Free High-Tech Training to
Stay Employed
SBC Foundation funds special OASIS project for
workforce development of boomers, seniors
Sept. 28, 2005 Baby boomers and senior citizens,
aged 50 an over, who want to continue working in productive roles beyond
the traditional retirement age, can join a new educational program to
develop the necessary high-tech skills if they live in one of the 14
cities being served by a special OASIS program funded by the SBC
Foundation.
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The project is funded by a $500,000 national SBC
Excelerator technology grant to The OASIS Institute, the national
nonprofit educational organization designed to enhance the quality of
life for mature adults. The SBC Foundation is the philanthropic arm of
SBC Communications, Inc.
Through OASIS classes this fall, individuals in 14
cities throughout the United States can update their technology skills
for the workplace with courses in how to use e-mail and word processing,
how to create spreadsheets and conduct Internet searches, as well as
learn about online security.
Cities that will be involved in the initial project
include Albany, Syracuse, Akron, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis,
Chicago, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Houston, San Diego,
Escondido and Los Angeles.
More new classes planned for early 2006 will help
people consider their options for work and life and update their job-
search skills in order to take advantage of the many employment
resources available online and in the community.
According to a 2003 AARP survey, 80 percent of baby
boomers plan to work during their retirement. But many older Americans
are postponing retirement, while others are going back into the
workforce, driven by personal or financial reasons. Many return to work
in order to supplement their retirement income, an important factor
because people live longer and retirement benefits can fall short of
income requirements. Other motivations include being actively engaged
and having purposeful relationships with co-workers.
The trend is evident in the number of older
workers. In 2004, the number of people 55 and older in the workforce
rose to 22.7 million, up from 22 million in 2003 and 20.7 million the
year before that, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
"People over 50 today look at their future in an
entirely different way than their parents and grandparents," said U.S.
Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo., a member of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on
Aging.
"As life expectancy increases, many seniors and
baby boomers will need to work to stretch their retirement income over
two or three decades. That's why I applaud The OASIS Institute for
helping older adults develop the skills they will need to remain
competitive in today's job market," he added.
Research from the Employment Policy Foundation (EPF)
points to a need for this generation to fill a growing gap in the labor
force over the next 20 years.
Current college-graduation rates and
workforce-participation rates indicate that employers will not be able
to offset fully the large-scale retirements of the baby boom generation,
as smaller generations seek to fill their place. The EPF projects that
there will be 4 million more jobs than workers by 2011. By 2030, there
could be 35 million unfilled jobs.
The project will address the needs of people
considering new roles, both paid and unpaid. Those seeking new roles as
volunteers and people looking for a new job will benefit by asking
themselves what skills and talents they want to turn in a new direction
and what new skills they want to develop. New courses in the spring will
help them with that planning process.
"Changes in life expectancy and other factors
impacting retirement income levels have combined to increase the number
of seniors that are unemployed or underemployed," said Laura Sanford,
president of the SBC Foundation. "The SBC Excelerator program is founded
on the idea that technology skills are increasingly fundamental to
employability. This project will help more people prepare to compete for
meaningful jobs and participate fully in community service activities."
Volunteers from the SBC Pioneers will also
participate in the project by acting as instructors, lab coaches and
community advocates. The SBC Pioneers form a group of nearly 200,000
current and retired SBC employees who perform community outreach
throughout the country.
"By cooperating with community centers, affordable
housing sites, churches and libraries, we will make these programs
accessible for a broad audience," said Marcia Kerz, president of The
OASIS Institute in St. Louis.
OASIS is now accepting registrations for fall
classes. Individuals can check class listings by visiting
www.oasisnet.org or by calling OASIS at (847) 498-2500, ext. 560.
About OASIS
OASIS is a national education organization that strengthens communities
by providing lifelong learning and service opportunities that inspire
mature adults to pursue vibrant, healthy, productive and meaningful
lives. For more information visit
www.oasisnet.org.
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